Summer Gibbs Photography

ummer Gibbs, and end our search for good! Summer had an impressive booth setup with her developed photos, pamphlet of packages and prices, and sample albums on display – beyond all the glitz and glamour that was sure to impress the wide-eyed brides and grooms, dreaming of their own moments captured in high-definition with stunning poses and whimsical backdrops, it would be the person behind the camera that would impress us the most. It was so evident and undeniable - there was an air of humility and genuine love for the craft as Summer picked our brain, digging deep into who we were as a couple, our interests, our backgrounds – our story. Summer made it so easy to open up with no hesitation, to be upfront and honest with our likes and dislikes, and to feel a sense of comfort amongst us. It was that instant connection of telling someone who you are, what you envision in your heart and mind, and then putting your trust in their lens and their lens alone. Summer embodies a consummate professional with an eye for artistic imagination, reminding us of a long-lost friend eager and ambitious in how she wants to capture our moments. Our engagement session in the nation’s capital was only possible because of Summer’s willingness to go beyond just her suggested package on paper – she was an artist who needed a canvas – the result was a late afternoon in DC, experiencing ourselves as a couple in ways we never envisioned, walking about the National Arboretum’s towering columns and sunny gardens, the tranquil sunset at the Jefferson Memorial, finding the only available cherry blossom left in bloom, and the often overlooked DC War Memorial at dusk, appreciating each moment Summer captured of us being happy, being excited, falling more in love. Our favorite part had to be the end of the night when the three of us, after being hungry for hours, shared a delicious gourmet pizza meal downtown – reflecting on our newfound appreciation for the city, for each other – for Summer. For the Bridal Portrait session at the Veritas Vineyard within the rolling hills of Afton, Summer continued her unique vision of capturing timeless images that will last through the ages – my wife had never looked more beautiful. And for our big day, the weekend we had been highly anticipating – we have never seen her more thoughtful, more intimate, more imaginative, more poised, more thorough, more humorous, more truly devoted to our day than we ever thought possible. She showed commitment in each and every capture – the fact that she worked from the beginning to the very end “just because” spoke volumes of her as a person who simply loves to keep doing what she loves – it was an inspiration for us to live out our marriage much the same way. To go beyond what is obligated for not only what you love, but for the people you care about, and just take in all of life that is beautiful – we not only see it in our archive filled with thousands of images retelling our romantic tale, but in our hearts that have been forever touched by our amazing photographer.